Minister Reddy alleges plot to ‘destroy’ Karnataka’s public transport system
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday accused vested interests of "attempting to destroy" the state’s public transport system.
Speaking to reporters, Reddy alleged that private company MoveInSync had organised a symposium featuring Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, during which calls like "No more BMTC" and "No more monopoly" were made.
"Without ever travelling in public transport even for a single day or having any experience of it, Lok Sabha Members Tejasvi Surya and Mohandas Pai, who wrongly assume they are the solution-givers for all societal problems, have supported a private company named ‘MoveInSync’," Reddy said.
The minister said MoveInSync provides cars, shuttle buses, and transport arrangements to factories and companies on a rental basis, with "no public interest whatsoever", and questioned the "invisible hands" behind the company.
"At the symposium, giving a speech about BMTC saying 'No more BMTC' and 'No more monopoly' is a disgrace," he added.
Reddy noted that while conferences organised by reputed transport institutions allow for balanced discussion, private events tend to focus on criticising government systems.
"People who use BMTC buses the most are workers, employees, the poor, the underprivileged, and the middle class. The statements made by these individuals reflect their filthy and capitalist mindset towards these sections of society," the minister said.
Calling BMTC the "lifeline of Bengaluru", Reddy said the system serves 48 lakh people daily.
"The population of Bengaluru is estimated at 1.44 crore, and about one-third of the city’s residents use BMTC buses," he added.
Reddy emphasised that public transport is a core function of a welfare state, and the government must preserve, develop, and promote it.
"The statements made by these individuals reflect their filthy and capitalist mindset towards these sections of society. It is well known that Lok Sabha Members Tejasvi Surya and Mohandas Pai have always displayed intolerance, arrogance, and disdain towards the poor, the downtrodden, and the helpless," he said.
The minister accused private operators of viewing bus services purely as business ventures, running routes only where profit is guaranteed. "No public transport system in the world is run for profit. The assistance and facilities provided by the government to public transport are regarded as a service to the people," he said.
Citing the report Beyond Free Rides – 22 @ Sustainable Mobility Network, Reddy highlighted that free bus travel for women under the Shakti Yojana increased female employment by 23 per cent in Bengaluru and 21 per cent in Hubballi-Dharwad.
"Nineteen per cent of women have started going out of their homes to work, contributing to an increase in the state’s per capita income," he added.
Reddy also listed government achievements in public transport over the last two years and five months, including 10,000 recruitments, the addition of 5,800 buses to the fleet, construction of new depots and bus stations, and implementation of worker welfare schemes such as Rs 1 crore accident insurance and cashless medical facilities.
"If we observe transport systems across the country, our state stands as the best in providing transport services. The national average is 1.2 buses per 1,000 people," he said, adding that BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Odisha have fewer buses per 1,000 people.
"The idea of shutting down the public transport system is shocking, dangerous, and destructive. I strongly condemn this. It should not be ‘no more buses’, but ‘more and more buses’," Reddy said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
ALSO READ: National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
